Stop AIDS in Prison Act

This bill was introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) as H.R.768 on February 12, 2015.

Summary

This bill directs the Bureau of Prisons to create comprehensive policy to provide testing, treatment, and prevention of HIV to federal prison inmates. It also requires the bureau to report on their efforts to minimize diseases transmitted through sexual activity and intravenous drug use as well as the effectiveness of those efforts.

PFLAG Talking Points

LGBTQ people are especially vulnerable to HIV and other STIs due to lack of inclusive preventative education. This bill provides LGBTQ inmates with preventative education and provides them with treatment and testing for HIV.

Federal prisons should be motivated to preserve the health of their inmates. Since this bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to report on the success rate of their testing, treatment, and prevention programs, federal prisons will have extra incentive to fulfill the legislation’s requirements.

All inmates are human beings with autonomy. This bill gives inmates the right to choose whether or not to be tested, minimizing the risk of potential abuse of authority.